NYC Robbery Suspect, 15, Who Died After Being Struck By Vehicle During LI Police Chase, Identified: PD

NORTH NEW HYDE PARK, NY — Police have identified the 15-year-old who was reportedly involved in a Queens robbery before he was struck and killed by a vehicle during a police chase on Long Island Saturday night as Antonio Benitez.

Benitez died at the scene from severe injuries, police said.

According to the New York Police Department, on Saturday at about 8:01 p.m., police responded to a 911 call about a knife-point robbery in progress in front of 256-17 Hillside avenue, in the 105th Precinct.

Officers pursued Benitez, who was riding an electric bicycle, police said.

During the pursuit, Benitez was struck by a Lexus GX 460, at the intersection of Lakeville Road and Bryant Avenue in New Hyde Park, in Nassau County, the NYPD said.

Benitez sustained serious trauma to the body and was pronounced deceased at the scene by EMS, the NYPD said.

The investigation is ongoing by the Nassau County Police Department in conjunction with the NYPD's force investigation division, police said.

According to the Nassau County Police Department, at 8:12 p.m., a 2015 Lexus traveling southbound on Lakeville Road struck an e-bike operated by the Benitez, who was traveling eastbound; he was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

The operator of the 2015 Lexus, Ruyan Ali, 28, of New Hyde Park Road, was arrested near the scene without further incident, police said. Ali was charged with leaving the scene of a crash with a fatality; second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation; third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation; and multiple other traffic violations, police said.

He was slated for arraignment on Sunday at First District Court in Hempstead, police said.